Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-01-27
HER CHINA "CRAZE."
What Kate Lost to Gain Superb
Pitcher.

1t does have grand air about it,
that great blue and white pitcher, with
its double twisted handle and its vivid
ultamarine Chinese landscapes and odd
scattered figures. 1t is of stately
height and shape, and it has q cover.
The cover is one of its special charms,
for the knob is hideous little grinning
blue lion with curved tail. Nobody
knows how old the pitcher is, but Mad
anne Burrill says she will warrant it a
hundred and fifty, for her great-aunt
gave it to her forty years ago, and she
said the lady who gave it to her had it
from her grandmother. II it were my
own pitcher would never part with it;
but would not pay the price to get it
that my cousin Kate did.
Somehow, somewhere, the selma
craze" seized Kate without my know
ing it. The width of our little old town
lies between our homes, and we do not
meet daily. l really had supposed that
KenSington embroidery, her mandolin
lessons, and her lovers filled Kate's
heart completely last winter. There
was a rumor about George Cathcart,
and it surely seemed as if there might be
something in it. Every body said what
magnificent couple they would make,
she with her beauty and dignity, and he
with his manliness and wealth. had
even gone so far as to wonder whether
an especially elaborate lambrequin that
was making might not do for we'd
ding present.
But one day,Kate and I were out call
ing together, and as we were passing a
dingy, weather-beaten old house, she
said, suddenly: 'Let us call on Madame
Burrill."
Iagreed, for had not been there for
year, and we all think it sort of duty
to visit Madame Burrlll now and then.
So we went in, and found the old lady
as usual sitting in her highbacked rock
ing-chair, her complexion still with a
pretty touch of pink in it, though she is
ninety-three years old, if she is day.
At the table sat her daughter Janet,
sewing for dear life on somebody's polo
naise; for the Burrills are quite reduced
now, as every body knows, and Janet
has to earn all the bread and butter they
get. We hadno been there three min
utes before Kate began to be enthusiast
tic about the old-fashioned corner cup
board, and that led Miss Janet to get up
and open it, upon which Hates exclam-
alton of delight acted almost like the
music of Orpheus, and drew from the
shelves to the table first a plate, and
then a tea-caddy, and then cups and
saucers, the best of which were thin
ancient Chinese china, and the common
est were scalloped blue and white, the
old primrose pattern.
saw kate's eyes grow greedy
"Would you sell me just one or two of
themp" she asked of Miss Janet for she
knew how poor they were.
Miss Janet pursed her lips and shook
her head. "She won't sell even one"
she said, in an undertone, nodding to-
ward her mothers chair. The old lady
turned herself little to watch us, and
/ fancy the pink in her faded cheeks
kindled little more.
"This plate" said Kate, lifting a
flower-besprent one, which had blush
tint in the white, and which you could
fairly see the light through.
Mother refused ten dollars for that
plate from man who called here, "
said Miss Janet, in an Indifferent tone,
as one who recites some fact in ancient
history.
''But you?" insinuated Kate, with q
glance at the toil-worn fingers.
...fA " =.
Janet, grimly, as she waxed thread
and resumed her sewing.
Kate flattered and coaxed in vain.
When she begged for only enc prim-
rose cup. the old lady leaned forward
and said; why, we drink out Of
them"-as if what Kate would pay
wouldn't more than buy whole set Of
common ware. There was what looked
to me like CLEAN of malicious pleas.
ure in old Madame Burrill's eyes. She
liked to tantalize. That is just the way
she treats her own daughter, who i.
lover sixty herself Poor Miss Janet
scarcely ever leaves her; but once she
did want to go out to spend the after
noon with some friends, and hel
mother opposed it. At last she said:
Every well, Janet, you may 90, bu
you may find me dead in my chail
when you get back. | am likely t.
drop off any minute, If Ihad mother
to care for, as you have, wouldn'I
think any thing in the world too mucf
to do for her"
So then, of course, Miss Janet staiC
at home.
And now the old lady had a treat il
seeing the rich and pretty daughter o.
Judge Garland begging for something
that she had the power to refuse her
Her eyes shone as she dropped back il
her chair and said: ''Open the celia
door, Janet, and see il that buckwhea
batter has soured."
Janet obeyed, and lifted from shell
in the cellarway tall blue and whit
pitcher, like nothing on earth VIC ha,
ever seen before, and looked into II
'.It's souring," she said. briefly.
''Oh, ohr' screamed Kate, In rapture
''what lovely, what a precious thin
that isl DO let me see it,
So the queer old pitcher was Get h.
fore us, and the lid broughk out that be
longed on it.
And you mix buckwheat cakes il
thism murmured Kate.
I'VE have to-" said Madame BurrilI
sereneIy; I'VE don't have dozen 4
choose from. a. your folks do"
Oh" pleaded Kate, won't You Il
me have this' viii give you besati
ful big brown pitcher. and ten-dells
bill. and a bag Of bucx wheat for i
VIII YOU, dear Madsnns BafriHs7
Janet looked up from her work wis'
fully. bpl her mother pssrsd 1t Kse